Dynamic relocation of the TORC1–Gtr1/2–Ego1/2/3 complex is regulated by Gtr1 and Gtr2

TORC1 regulates cellular growth, metabolism, and autophagy by integrating various signals, including nutrient availability, through the small GTPases RagA/B/C/D in mammals and Gtr1/2 in budding yeast. Rag/Gtr is anchored to the lysosomal/vacuolar membrane by the scaffold protein complex Ragulator/Ego. Here we show that Ego consists of Ego1 and Ego3, and novel subunit Ego2. The ∆ego2 mutant exhibited only partial defects both in Gtr1-dependent TORC1 activation and Gtr1 localization on the vacuole. Ego1/2/3, Gtr1/2, and Tor1/Tco89 were colocalized on the vacuole and associated puncta. When Gtr1 was in its GTP-bound form and TORC1 was active, these proteins were preferentially localized on the vacuolar membrane, whereas when Gtr1 was in its GDP-bound form, they were mostly localized on the puncta. The localization of TORC1 to puncta was further facilitated by direct binding to Gtr2, which is involved in suppression of TORC1 activity. Thus regulation of TORC1 activity through Gtr1/Gtr2 is tightly coupled to the dynamic relocation of these proteins.     

ERK1/2和p-ERK1/2在肺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的研究细胞外信号调节激酶1/2（extracellular regulated kinase 1/2,ERK1/2）及其磷酸化状态（p-ERK1/2）在不同分化程度肺癌中的表达情况,探讨二者与肺癌侵袭、转移的关系。方法采用免疫组化（Envision）法,检测79例肺癌组织及l2例癌旁正常肺组织中ERK1/2和p-ERK1/2的表达。结果ERK1/2在高、中、低分化组表达率分别为13.6%,39.4%,66.7%,p-ERK1/2在高、中、低分化组表达率分别14.3%,27.3%,79.2%（P〈0.05）;无淋巴结转移者阳性率为20%,有淋巴结转移者阳性率为50.1%（P〈0.05）。ERK1/2和p-ERK1/2的表达在不同年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、肿瘤病理类型无显著性差异,而与分化程度有关,其中p-ERK1/2的表达还与有无淋巴结转移有关。结论ERK1/2和p-ERK1/2在肺癌组织中高表达且与分化程度有关。     

Urotensin-2 promotes collagen synthesis via ERK1/2-dependent and ERK1/2-independent TGF-β1 in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts

U2 (urotensin-2) is the most potent vasoconstrictor in mammals which is involved in cardiac remodelling, including cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis. Although the cellular mechanisms of the U2-induced vasoconstriction have been extensively studied, the signalling pathways involved in U2-induced TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1) expression and collagen synthesis remain unclear. In this study, we show that U2 promoted collagen synthesis and ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2) activation in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts. The U2-induced collagen synthesis and TGF-β1 production were significantly but not completely inhibited by blocking ERK1/2. Both ERK1/2 inhibitor and TGF-β1 antibody could separately inhibit U2-induced collagen synthesis, and the synergistic inhibition effect was observed by blocking ERK1/2 and TGF-β1 simultaneously. These data suggest that U2 promotes collagen synthesis via ERK1/2-dependent and independent TGF-β1 pathway in neonatal cardiac fibroblasts.     

森林采伐格局控制的21/2原则

森林生产力可以由独占圆推导的原则所优化 ,独占圆是以林木为圆心 ,以其邻体距离的 1/ 2为半径所画的圆。已经证明独占圆有如下 3个特性 :(1)独占圆之间不会重叠 ,最近的关系是相切 ;(2 )完全均匀分布格局的独占圆总面积与植物株数无关 ,而且是样地总面积的 2倍 ;(3)从样地上去掉一株植物 ,只会增大某些独占圆的面积 ,而不会减少其它独占圆的面积。定义均匀度 (L )为 :样地上的独占圆总面积除以完全均匀格局的相同样地上的独占圆总面积。均匀度 (L )服从分布 :L～ x2 (2 n) / 2πn,且有E(L) =1/ π=0 .318,L 的方差 D(L) =1/ nπ2 ,可见 E(L)与 n和样地面积均无关 ,L 是一个相对指标。 L 可以用于对格局类型的检验。“增面积林木”定义为 :去掉它可以增加独占圆总面积的林木。第二邻体距离大于第一邻体距离 2倍的林木就是增面积林木 ,这就是所谓 2原则。在所调查的样地上 ,随意性地将样地分成 6块 ,在每块样地上其增面积林木的比例均约为 1/ 2 ,无一例外。在随机格局的假设下 ,推导了 6块分割样地的增面积林木的期望比例 ,其值为 0 .35～ 0 .4 4。显然 ,期望值与抽样值的差异明显 ,而引起差的原因尚难以解释 ,有待进一步研究。提出了在择伐中增加林地均匀度的两条原则 :(1)独占圆面积偏小 ;(2 )增面积林     

OxLDL up-regulates Niemann-Pick type C1 expression through ERK1/2/COX-2/PPARα-signaling pathway in macrophages

The Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) is located mainly in the membranes of the late endosome/lysosome and controls the intracellular cholesterol trafficking from the late endosome/lysosome to the plasma membrane. It has been reported that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) can up-regulate NPC1 expression. However, the detailed mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of oxLDL stimulation on NPC1 expression in THP-1 macrophages. Our results showed that oxLDL up-regulated NPC1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. In addition, oxLDL also induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2). Treatment with oxLDL significantly increased cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA and protein expression in the macrophages, and these increases were suppressed by the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 or ERK1/2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) treatment. OxLDL up-regulated the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) at the mRNA and protein levels, which could be abolished by COX-2 siRNA or COX-2 inhibitor NS398 treatment in these macrophages. OxLDL dramatically elevated cellular cholesterol efflux, which was abrogated by inhibiting ERK1/2 and/or COX-2. In addition, oxLDL-induced NPC1 expression and cellular cholesterol efflux were reversed by PPARα siRNA or GW6471, an antagonist of PPARα. Taken together, these results provide the evidence that oxLDL can up-regulate the expression of the NPC1 through ERK1/2/COX-2/PPARα-signaling pathway in macrophages.     

人脑胶质瘤中的IDH1/2突变

胶质母细胞瘤的基因组突变分析中发现的异柠檬酸脱氢酶(isocitrate dehydrogenase,IDH1)突变对胶质瘤的认识具有突破性意义。随后,在胶质瘤中发现了IDH1的R132碱基和IDH2的R172碱基突变。IDH1突变较多的发生在WHOII-III级胶质瘤和继发胶质母细胞瘤中。这种突变改变了异柠檬酸脱氢酶的结构,从而使将异柠檬酸转化为a-酮戊二酸的能力丧失,而获得将a-酮戊二酸转化为2-羟基戊二酸这一新的酶活性。在临床中,IDH1和IDH2突变已经显示对胶质瘤患者有诊断和预后意义。同时,现今也发展了一些检测方法。     

Regulation of α(2B)-adrenergic receptor-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) activation by ADP-ribosylation factor 1

A number of signaling molecules are involved in the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by G protein-coupled receptors. In this study, we have demonstrated that α(2B)-adrenergic receptor (α(2B)-AR) interacts with ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1), a small GTPase involved in vesicle-mediated trafficking, in an agonist activation-dependent manner and that the interaction is mediated through a unique double Trp motif in the third intracellular loop of the receptor. Interestingly, mutation of the double Trp motif and siRNA-mediated depletion of ARF1 attenuate α(2B)-AR-mediated activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) without altering receptor intracellular trafficking, whereas expression of the constitutively active mutant ARF1Q71L and ARNO, a GDP-GTP exchange factor of ARF1, markedly enhances the activation of Raf1, MEK1, and ERK1/2. These data strongly demonstrate that the small GTPase ARF1 modulates ERK1/2 activation by α(2B)-AR and provide the first evidence indicating a novel function for ARF1 in regulating the MAPK signaling pathway.     

Pkh1/2-Pil1信号调节酵母细胞内吞

酵母细胞中Pkh1/2信号影响细胞内吞功能.Pil1因与Pkh1/2形成复合物并可被 其磷酸化引起关注.新近发现一个大分子复合物eisosome 是内吞的标志性位点， 而Pil1是其主要成分.前期研究发现，Pil1的磷酸化状态对eisosome结构完整至关 重要.本研究通过检测Pkh1/2突变菌的生长和萤光黄（LY） 染料在空泡聚集情况 ，发现由于Pkh1/2突变导致的生长抑制和液相内吞功能丧失,可部分由过表达的 Pil1补偿，得出结论是Pkh1/2-Pil1信号在一定程度上调节细胞内吞.     

Akt1K64/276与SUMO1结合激活ERK1/2-Elk1-BDNF信号通路

本研究主要从蛋白质结构分析Akt1 SUMO化的位点及位点的突变对其结构与功能的影响。采用多种软件分析Akt1 SUMO化位点和Akt1野生型(Akt1wt)及Akt1K64/276R的理化性质、亲/疏水性及二/三级结构;分析结果显示,Akt1K64/276R较Akt1wt,亲/疏水性未改变,α-螺旋和β-折叠都有少量的不同。三级结构分析显示,与野生型组相比,Akt1K64R氢键增多。以Myc-Akt1wt-pcDNA3.1为模板,采用PCR定点突变技术扩增出Myc-Akt1K64/276R。DNA序列分析结果显示,Myc-Akt1K64/276R基因序列编码赖氨酸(K)的密码子AAG被成功突变为精氨酸(R)密码子AGG。免疫沉淀和免疫印迹结果显示,不共转PIAS3,Akt1也能与SUMO1结合;Myc-Akt1wt和Myc-Akt1K64/276R均可在HEK293细胞中高效表达;转染Myc-Akt1K64/276R组SUMO化水平降低了70%左右(P<0.05)。免疫印迹结果显示,在小鼠海马神经细胞HT22中,Myc-Akt1wt组ERK1/2磷酸化水平及BDNF蛋白水平是突...     

WNK2通过抑制ERK1/2/ROS/SHP2信号通路延缓肝细胞癌的增殖和侵袭

目的 探讨WNK2对肝细胞癌(hepatocellocellua carcinoma, HCC)中ERK1/2/ROS/SHP2信号通路的影响,并探讨其在HCC细胞增殖和迁移中的作用。方法 将WNK2-mimic和sh-RNA WNK2以及相应的阴性对照转染HepG2细胞,采用BALB/c裸鼠皮下成瘤实验检测WNK2对肝细胞癌增殖能力的影响;采用Western Blot检测瘤组织中WNK2、p40、gp90、p-SHP2、p-AKT和p-ERK1/2的表达;使用SHP2抑制剂PHPS1进行处理之后,采用Western Blot检测HepG2细胞中WNK2、p40、gp90、p-SHP2、p-AKT和p-ERK1/2的表达;使用细胞划痕实验和Transwell检测HepG2细胞的迁移能力和侵袭能力;采用单克隆增殖实验和CCK-8检测HepG2细胞的增殖能力。结果 与sh-NC组相比,sh-RNA WNK2组裸鼠的瘤体体积显著增大(P<0.01);而与NC-mimic组相比,WNK2-mimic组裸鼠的瘤体体积显著减小(P<0.01);Western Blot结果显示,与sh-...     

拟南芥ZTL/FKF1/LKP2蛋白家族功能研究进展

植物通过各类受体来感知外界环境的改变从而调节自身的生长和发育情况。在拟南芥中,植物主要通过隐花色素(Cryptochromes)和向光素(Phototropins)感知蓝光。同时ZEITLUPE (ZTL),FLAVIN-BINDING KELCH REPEAT F-box1 (FKF1)和LOV KELCH PROTEIN2 (LKP2)蛋白家族也作为蓝光受体参与调控植物生长发育过程。因其特殊的蛋白结构组成,在植物的光周期开花、节律性和光形态建成等方面发挥了重要的调控作用。近来,ZTL/FKF1/LKP2蛋白家族被发现参与植物逆境胁迫响应。本文归纳了ZTL/FKF1/LKP2的生物学功能研究进展,并对其作用机制进行了总结与讨论。     

HeLa/GFP-Plk1/Cherry-H2B稳定细胞系的构建

目的:构建可研究Polo样激酶1(Plk1)定位的HeLa细胞系。方法:用PCR方法扩增Plk1基因,定向克隆到pRex-EGFP-IRES-Hygro载体中,构建pRex-EGFP-Plk1-IRES-Hygro表达载体;利用逆转录病毒感染的方法,向HeLa细胞系中依次转染pRex-EGFP-Plk1-IRES-Hygro、pRex-Cherry-H2B-IRES-Hygro,构建Hela/GFP-Plk1/Cherry-H2B稳定细胞系;激光共聚焦显微镜观察Hela/GFP-Plk1/Cherry-H2B稳定细胞系在不同有丝细胞分裂期时Plk1的定位。结果:质粒酶切及测序证明pRex-EGFP-Plk1-IRES-Hygro载体构建正确;在Hela/GFP-Plk1/Cherry-H2B稳定细胞系有丝分裂中期和末期时,观察到Plk1分别定位于着丝粒和中间体上。结论:构建了Hela/GFP-Plk1/CherryH2B稳定细胞系,为研究Plk1在有丝分裂不同时期的调控机制提供了细胞模型。     

猪链球菌1、2、14、1/2型荚膜多糖的单糖组成比较

【目的】猪链球菌1、2、14和1/2型间存在单向或双向的交叉抗原性,这种交叉抗原性的产生原因至今未被揭示。【方法】采用Sephacryl S-300凝胶层析柱对猪链球菌14和1/2型荚膜多糖进行分离纯化,经苯酚-硫酸检测和dot-ELISA辅助鉴定,确定荚膜多糖成分。采用高效凝胶渗透色谱法测定14和1/2型猪链球菌荚膜多糖分子量分别为487.38 kDa和512.72 kDa。【结果】经柱前衍生高效液相色谱法、荧光标记液相色谱法和核磁共振测定14和1/2型猪链球菌荚膜多糖单糖组成分别为:Glc/Gal/GlcNAc/Rha/Neu5Ac(1∶2.94∶1.35∶0.24∶0.37)和Glc/Gal/GlcNAc/GalNAc/Rha/Neu5Ac(1∶1.67∶1.05∶0.93∶0.72∶0.7)。并与已知的猪链球菌1、2型荚膜多糖的单糖组成进行比较分析,发现4种血清型荚膜多糖都具有Glc、GlcNAc、Gal和Neu5Ac,但单糖组成和比列并无明显相似性,这种交叉抗原性可能是由于荚膜多糖的空间结构相似性和(或)细胞表面的其他成分引起的。     

Cbfa1/Runx2与成骨细胞分化调控

成骨细胞是由间充质干细胞经骨原细胞和前成骨细胞分化而来的。近年来已鉴定转录因子Cbfal(core binding factor α1)是成骨细胞分化和骨形成的关键调控因子。在成骨细胞分化的过程中,Cbfal通过调控成骨细胞特异性细胞外基质蛋白基因的表达和成骨细胞周期参与成骨细胞的分化过程。新近发现Cbfal能通过自身的PST序列区域与Smads结合形成复合物共同参与成骨细胞的分化调控。     

Fibroblast growth factor-2 promotes catabolism via FGFR1-Ras-Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis that coordinates with the PKCδ pathway in human articular chondrocytes

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) has been found to play an anti-anabolic and/or a catabolic role in adult human articular cartilage via regulation of multiple signaling pathways. Upon FGF-2 stimulation, a molecular crosstalk between the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase C δ (PKCδ) pathways are initiated, where PKCδ positively regulates downstream MAPK signaling. In this study, we explored the relationship between fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), Ras, and PKCδ in FGF-2 signaling in human articular chondrocytes. Pathway-specific inhibition using both chemical inhibitors and siRNA targeting FGFR1 demonstrated that, upon FGF-2 stimulation, FGFR1 controlled both Ras and PKCδ activation, which converged on the Raf-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 axis. No crosstalk was observed between Ras and PKCδ. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed that both Ras and PKCδ contributed to FGF-2-mediated upregulation of MMP-13, ADAMTS5, and repression of aggrecan gene. Correspondingly, FGF-2-mediated proteoglycan loss was effectively reversed by individual pathway-specific inhibitor of Ras, PKCδ, and ERK1/2 in both 3-dimensional alginate bead culture and cartilage organ culture systems. Our findings suggest that FGFR1 interacts with FGF-2 and then activates Ras and PKCδ, which concertedly drive MAPK signaling to mediate biological effects of FGF-2. Such an integration of dual inputs constitutes a novel mechanism of FGF-2 signaling cascade in human articular chondrocytes.     

CRISPR/Cas9介导的LATS1/2敲除抑制卵巢癌细胞ES-2增殖

Hippo信号通路在哺乳动物肝脏发育、动态平衡、再生和疾病中发挥非常重要的作用。大肿瘤抑制基因1/2（large tumor suppressor 1/2, LATS1/2）激酶是Hippo信号通路的关键激酶,可以磷酸化YES相关蛋白（yes-associated protein,YAP）,从而调节YAP的核质定位和降解。本文采用CRISPR/Cas9方法构建慢病毒介导的Last1/2基因敲除的载体,通过包装、感染和嘌呤霉素筛选,获得LATS1/2部分敲除的人卵巢癌ES-2和H08910细胞,免疫印迹方法检测LATS1/2表达明显减少。细胞增殖实验检测LATS1/2缺失明显抑制ES-2和HO8910细胞增殖。软琼脂克隆形成实验表明,LATS1/2缺失抑制卵巢癌ES-2细胞的克隆形成能力。细胞划痕和Transwell实验证明,LATS1/2缺失明显抑制卵巢癌ES-2细胞迁移。流式细胞检测发现,LATS1/2敲除促进卵巢癌ES-2细胞凋亡并影响细胞周期。裸鼠成瘤实验表明,LATS1/2缺失明显抑制体内肿瘤组织增殖。分子机制研究表明, LATS1/2敲除促进卵巢癌ES-2细胞中胶原I型α1（collagen type I α1,ColIα1）基因表达量增加,在卵巢癌ES-2细胞中同时敲除LATS1/2和COL1A1,可以促进细胞克隆形成。综上结果,人卵巢癌ES-2细胞中LATS1/2缺失能促进COL1A1表达增加, 从而抑制细胞增殖、转移和克隆形成,并影响细胞周期和促进细胞凋亡。     

Galangin ameliorates cardiac remodeling via the MEK1/2–ERK1/2 and PI3K–AKT pathways

Cardiac remodeling is associated with inflammation and apoptosis. Galangin, as a natural flavonol, has the potent function of regulating inflammation and apoptosis, which are factors related to cardiac remodeling. Beginning 3 days after aortic banding (AB) or Sham surgery, mice were treated with galangin for 4 weeks. Cardiac remodeling was assessed according to echocardiographic parameters, histological analyses, and hypertrophy and fibrosis markers. Our results showed that galangin administration attenuated cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction, and fibrosis response in AB mice and angiotensin II-treated H9c2 cells. The inhibitory action of galangin in cardiac remodeling was mediated by MEK1/2–extracellular-regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2)–GATA4 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)–protein kinase B (AKT)–glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) activation. Furthermore, we found that galangin inhibited inflammatory response and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that galangin protects against cardiac remodeling through decreasing inflammatory responses and apoptosis, which are associated with inhibition of the MEK1/2–ERK1/2–GATA4 and PI3K–AKT–GSK3β signals.     

Nod2 downregulates TLR2/1 mediated IL1β gene expression in mouse peritoneal macrophages

Nod2 is a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor. It has been implicated in many inflammatory conditions. Its signaling has been suggested to modulate TLR responses in a variety of ways, yet little is known about the mechanistic details of the process. We show in this study that Nod2 knockdown mouse peritoneal macrophages secrete more IL1β than normal macrophages when stimulated with peptidoglycan (PGN). Muramyl dipeptide (MDP, a Nod2 ligand) + PGN co-stimulated macrophages have lower expression of IL1β than PGN (TLR2/1 ligand) stimulated macrophages. MDP co-stimulation have similar effects on Pam3CSK4 (synthetic TLR2/1 ligand) mediated IL1β expression suggesting that MDP mediated down regulating effects are receptor dependent and ligand independent. MDP mediated down regulation was specific for TLR2/1 signaling as MDP does not affect LPS (TLR4 ligand) or zymosan A (TLR2/6 ligand) mediated IL1β expression. Mechanistically, MDP exerts its down regulating effects by lowering PGN/Pam3CSK4 mediated nuclear cRel levels. Lower nuclear cRel level were observed to be because of enhanced transporting back rather than reduced nuclear translocation of cRel in MDP + PGN stimulated macrophages. These results demonstrate that Nod2 and TLR2/1 signaling pathways are independent and do not interact at the level of MAPK or NF-κB activation.